Chapter 6

Tilly

"I can't believe we're actually here," Kayla whispered.

"Looks better than I expected," I said, surprising us both.

"Could just be fluff. Let's explore some and find out."

"Matilda, come with me," Aiden ordered.

Biting my tongue helped me hold back a growl.

When Kayla moved to follow, one of Aiden's guards cut her off.

"You are not needed for this."

"No," I said. "Kayla's here for my protection. Wherever I go, she goes."

The guy laughed. "She can't protect you here."

"Is that a threat?" Kayla asked before somehow appearing to look down her nose at him, even though he was at least eight inches taller. "Or a challenge?"

He growled at her.

She growled back at him.

"I don't have time for this," Aiden barked.

"Well, I don't know anyone here or what threats lurk here. So Kayla stays with me or I'm just not going anywhere."

"Whatever. I swear, you're a child."

It took a lot for me not to reply, "Takes one to know one." But I knew that would be beyond immature. Then again, if it helped me to get out of this arrangement without causing issues for my own Tribe, then I'd be okay with that.

"Get moving!"

I jumped at his words, but scowled the whole way.

Despite my behavior whenever he was around, I was far from a child. I was twenty-six years old. My suite may be in the Alpha House with all the perks of living there, but it was still my home and I'd lived on my own there and been a vital part of my Pack and the King Tribe for nearly a decade now. I may not have been raised to be a she-Alpha, but I'd been raised to be a leader and knew that required personal sacrifice. In a lot of ways, I'd been groomed for the possibility of just this moment, even if I didn't want to admit it. So why did everything feel so wrong?

"Who's that?" one of Aiden's guys asked as our little party stopped to watch six men exit what I presumed was the Alphas' house.

"I don't know. Never seen them before. Come on."

For just a second, Aiden didn't sound like the arse I'd so far gotten to know. There was concern in his voice, like just maybe he did have some emotions locked up inside him.

They quickly ushered us towards the building and inside.

"Dad? Who were those men?"

"Aiden, you're back just in time. Did you bring Michelle back with you?"

He cringed and gritted his teeth. "Not Michelle. This is Danner's younger daughter, Matilda."

He practically spat out the words.

"The younger daughter?"

I cringed at the anger in his voice.

"Trappers took my sister while out on a run. Just a few days ago."

The large Alpha stiffened. "Taken? Are you certain it was trappers?"

I shrugged. "That's what I've been told."

"Why?" Aiden pressed. "And who were those men that just left here? You didn't say."

"That is Westin Force Delta team. Bravo is also here in Australia but assisting a different Tribe today. They didn't say which."

"Westin Force is here? But why?"

"Michelle isn't the only shifter to disappear in the area. They say the Collectors are in town."

"Here?"

"Not here, as in our territory, but here in Australia. They are awaiting word for the location."

"Who's Westin Force?" Kayla whispered.

"I'll tell you later."

We all knew about the Collectors. Thanks to Westin Force, word had spread worldwide alerting everyone to those guys, insanely rich humans with a desire to collect the most unique among us.

"What do the Collectors want with us? I thought they only collected witches, yeah?"

"Or the rarest of shifters. Apparently, they have put out a statement that the last six dingo shifters will be amongst the latest auction."

Aiden snorted. "Six? There's a lot more of us than that."

"But will there be? That's what Westin Force fears the most right now. They are going around to all the major Tribes to warn everyone. If they had arrived yesterday, I would have insisted you stay put in King territory."

As if just realizing we were still there, the Alpha turned all his charm our way.

"Ladies, my apologies. I hope we haven't scared you. This is all just precautionary. Your own father will be dealing with much the same soon. I'm afraid I'm going to require my son for much of today. I assure you, despite what you've just overheard, this territory is well protected. You are safe here and free to explore. I have no doubt you'll find everything up to the high standards the Kings are known for."

And with that, Aiden and his guards followed the Alpha, shut the door behind them, and we were suddenly free.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, today just got a whole lot better," Kayla whispered.

I giggled, linked my arm with hers, and quickly left the house.

"They've had me cooped up for days. All I really want to do is go for a run," I confessed.

"He did say we were safe within territory, and no way could we miss the stench of this place and venture outside Tribe lines."

"Kayla, you're awful. I have to try to find something good about this place and this situation. I've been so mad that I've been acting childish and I hate it. That's not who I am."

"Okay. Mindset change. Let's run and clear our heads."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

We walked around looking for a way out. The way the buildings were designed created a circular pattern throughout the town, with the Alpha house in the very center. It made it very difficult to get around beyond the one main road that wrapped around the place.

"I'm so confused by this layout," Kayla said. "I think if we walk between the buildings, we should get to the outer perimeter faster."

Before I could stop her, she jetted off between two houses. I started to follow her, but it just came to another house. Walking around it brought me to yet another. It felt very intrusive, so I walked back to the road and continued down the path. I knew I'd catch up to her eventually or she'd follow my scent back to me.

Just like her parents, Kayla wasn't just a badass warrior, but a skilled tracker, too. It always amazed me how so many people belittled scapegoats. If they only knew the truth.

I knew I needed an attitude adjustment. This was to be my life, my home, and I couldn't just let myself be miserable for the rest of it. So as I walked, I took my time looking around, taking it all in.

Every building was an ugly shade of brown and Earth tones, but they matched the area and likely formed a natural camouflage for the town.

I hadn't passed a single person, but that meant privacy.

And while there was the resounding stench of Campbells, there was also a very pleasant scent in the air. I breathed it in and my whole body shook. I had no idea what it was, but I knew I needed to find out. It made my mouth water, yet I didn't think it was food, or at least no food I'd ever smelled before.

I continued to follow the scent until I heard male voices just up ahead.

"It's just weird. Where is everyone?"

He parroted my thoughts exactly.

"The Alpha said they bus out the majority of the Pack, or Tribe, or whatever for work every morning before sunrise and they return in the late evening. It makes sense. Look around, there's nothing here."

"Do you really think the Collectors would even find them out here?"

"I don't know."

"There's literally no one here."

"Someone's here and listening in."

That voice resonated through my body and hit me straight in the core.

Bugger. What the hell was going on?

It dawned on me that the men had gone quiet. As stealthy as possible, I tiptoed towards the closest house and flattened against the wall, hoping they would just walk on by.

When I heard their footsteps getting further away, I started to relax.

"You can try to hide, but do you really think we can't smell you?" that deep male voice tinted in an Aussie accent said.

I yelped in surprise.

He took a deep breath, sniffing the surrounding air.

I froze as my whole body reacted, and I slowly looked up into his big blue eyes.

Mate.

"It's you," he said almost reverently.

This could not be happening.

My eyes darted around, looking for an escape.

Finding what I hoped would be one, I took off running between the buildings.

Mine , my dingo growled in my head.

No , I thought. No, no, no.

I could not have a true mate now. I was supposed to mate Aiden, and even though I didn't fully understand why, I knew it was important if my father ordered it.

So, I ran.

"Wait! Come back."

I hated the way his voice alone felt like a jolt of lightning striking me each time. It only made me pick up my pace and get away as fast as possible.

This could not be happening.

Mine , my dingo growled again.

What were the odds that my true mate would be right here in this Tribe? It was a nightmare. I couldn't look at him. I didn't want to know who he was. To do so would only haunt me for the rest of my life.

Once I bonded with Aiden, it wouldn't matter anymore anyway. I would no longer feel the call of a true mate, or at least I was pretty sure that's how it worked.

And at least if I didn't know who he was, then I wouldn't long for him or wonder ‘what if' whenever I saw him.

No, this was much better. As it was, I knew those eyes would haunt my dreams forever. I certainly didn't need a face and body to go along with it. In my panic for an escape, I hadn't taken in the rest of him. Thank God for that.